A night of pre-wedding revelry for two B.C. Indo-Canadian families turned into a nightmare of death and injury after a vehicle slammed into the celebrants, killing six and injuring 17.

"I've been told by one of our senior officers with over twenty years of experience that this is one of the most difficult scenes that he's ever witnessed," Const. Casey Vinet of the Abbotsford, B.C. police told reporters on Saturday.

The victims were part of a "jaago," a traditional Indian parade led by a drummer, walking between homes of the bride and groom about 11 p.m. local time on Friday night.

They were singing, carrying lights and dressed in bright clothing when a Chevrolet pick-up truck plowed into the crowd.

Six people died and 17 were injured. Bodies were scattered everywhere.

"They were struck and some of them were pinned under the vehicle as it rolled off the road and into the ditch there. And it had to be pushed off some folks that were trapped under the vehicle," said Sgt. Amar Kingra.

"They were to be followed by another vehicle with four way flashers and according to our information, that vehicle never had the opportunity to turn around."

The dead range in age from their mid-teens to their 50s. Three victims are male, and three female. The injured ranged from infants to people in their 50s. Fourteen ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

A Fraser Valley Health Authority spokesperson said injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones.

Vinet said police have questioned and released a 71-year-old driver, who is in shock. They have ruled out drugs or alcohol as factors and say it is too early to talk about laying charges.

The accident took place on a rural road with no lighting. There's a mix of homes and agricultural operations in the area. Weather was reportedly not a factor.

Jagdish Gill, whose daughter is a friend of the bride, told The Canadian Press that the group was walking towards the bride's house.

Most people walked in the ditch, but some were on the road, she said.

"That's what we do in India, but here not many people do that. But they thought they were in a farm (area) so they can do that thing because (there are) not that many cars on the road."

Area resident Ivar Lee said he could hear the sounds of revelry, estimating the crowd's size at well over 100 people.

"We were real happy for them," Lee told CP. "All of a sudden the music stopped and we heard sirens coming and then we heard more sirens and more sirens and then a helicopter showed up and then a second helicopter showed up."

People came by on Saturday to offer condolences and comfort the families.

"The shock is there but it hasn't really hit them yet," said Moe Gill, a long-time family friend. "And I think as soon as it hits, we'll really know how they're really doing."

CTV's Todd Battis said it appears the wedding will proceed on Sunday, but with only a small number of people from each family.

With a report from CTV's Todd Battis and files from The Canadian Press